Irish Examiner view: Different standards of free speech 

Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has refocused debate on the limits of freedom of expression

Social media is abuzz with the news about Tesla founder Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, with much of the discourse focused on free speech. File picture: John Raoux/AP

One of the consequences of Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover is a refocused debate on what constitutes “free” speech, and what that means in different jurisdictions. In some countries, the US for example, it has constitutional protection. 

In Europe, it is referenced by the Convention on Human Rights, which includes “freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers”. In other nations, much press regulation derives from courts and case law of various kinds.